3501 Rebel Run Fairfax, VA 22030 FHSRebelRoar@gmail.com
June 4, 2009 Volume LXXVI, Issue 10
The 2008-2009 Senior Issue
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
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This month in
RebelSeniorSpecial Esha Pendharkar and
RebelReflections Dr. Brabrand’s
3 4& 5
Year of Champions From the Editor’s desk: James Lee & Catherine Treyz
RebelFeatures Friendship meets
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fashion Sung Jin Park skates from the ice to the classroom
8 9
rampant in Fairfax Ask Kevin: Find a job for summer
RebelCommentary Concussion runs
10 12 12 & 13
Zach Patteson selected as student speakers Rebel Rants: Spotlight on past 4 years
Oh, the place you’ll go! Seniors leave Fairfax heading for the future
RebelEntertainment SIMS 3 offers realistic
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graphics to game-world
RebelFeatures Underclassman summer
15 16 & 17
to-do list The Freshman 15 How To: -make new friends -do laundry -get along with roomates
RebelSPORTS Seniors defeat juniors in
18 & 19 20 21 22 & 23
final Powderpuff; Freshman v. Sophomore tie in overtime FHS continue athletic prowess in college Spring season wrap-up: Softball suprises competition ‘08-’09 sports in review Editor Jean DeOrnellas recaps her highs and lows of the past year
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Rebel TRA COVERAGE
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Remember the Magic: Chorus performs Disney for seniors’ final songs
Photo by James Lee.
Staff 08-09 Editor in Chief James Lee Catherine Treyz
Managing Editor Andrew Dilworth
News Editor Dan Webster Kevin Poon
Commentary Editor Kevin Dowd
Entertainment Editor Michael Dadok Myriam Tchatchouang
Features Editor Anurag Bhatnagar Annelise Jensen
Sports Editor Jean DeOrnellas
Copy Editor Aditya Bhatnagar
Business Manager Jordan Sharpe Aneela Wadan
Photography Editor Lindsey Bush
Staff Writer
Noor Abughannam Brian Berenbaum Abdoul Bouarfa Jacob Fulmer Steven Kendall Eric Lesher Melissa Lin Caitlin Noone Wardah Rashid Allie Sawyer Zafar Shaw Emily Taylor Alex Woodill
Adviser
Lauren Millette
The Rebel Roar is published as a public forum of student expression. Letters to the Editor encouraged. Only signed letters are considered for publication. The editors reserve the right to edit all material in the interest of clarity and space. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the staff or school administration. The staff writes unsigned editorials
on a majority basis. The Rebel Roar accepts all advertisements deemed appropriate for a public forum meant for young adults and are subject to the discretion of the editors. Students are encouraged to take an active voice in the student publication. Questions, comments, and letters can be e-mailed to FHSRebelRoar@gmail. com.
FROM THE MAIN DESK:
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‘08-‘09: the “Year of Champions”
Dear Rebels, The 2008-2009 school year has truly been the “Year of Champions” at Fairfax High School. I am so proud of all the achievements and accomplishments that each of you have made this school year! I want to remind you of what I said in this year’s first issue of the Rebel Roar about Champions: “Effort, not ability, makes a true champion. I know there are some folks who believe otherwise: you know, he is just naturally great at math; she has always been a great writer. But effort can actually improve your ability – for example, the more your try at math, the better you can get. Then as you get better at math - with the same amount of effort, you can accomplish even more. To be a champion is hard work… Make no mistake, a large part of success in school is working hard and then feeling the satisfaction that comes from outstanding achievement in the classroom and in your co-curricular and extracurricular activities.” Now as we come to the end of the year, I hope you have felt the satisfaction of having worked hard and reached your goals. There will continue to be new goals and new hopes and new dreams for you. But I hope one thing never changes: the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Have a great summer! Sincerely,
Dr. Brabrand
Photo by Catherine Treyz.
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To our readers, I’m not going to lie. High school has failed to meet my expectations. Four years ago I imagined that I would have a high school experience that mirrored the adventures of Zack Morris in Saved by the Bell. If nothing else, I at least expected to have stayed at the same school for my four years high school. But things didn’t go as planned. I moved around to three different schools over the four years of high school. Switching schools was difficult, to say the least. I was bitter and angry with the world, refusing to accept my new surroundings. It was difficult for me to realize at the time, but the only thing that I could do was accept my fate. Through my resentment and anguish I learned that life will never meet all of my expectations. But just because a certain event or person or thing doesn’t live up to what I had imagined, doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing. It doesn’t mean that I have to be disappointed. If four years of high school have taught me anything, it’s not how to write with parallel structure or the minute differences between “el preterito” and “el imperfecto,” which I still don’t understand. Rather, it’s how to move on with life, how to wake up every morning and say to myself, “James, today is a new day. Make it happen.” While I may not be in a place to offer advice to students, after all, I am one of you, I’ll do so nonetheless. As you go on with life, whether it’s at a college, a job, or still here at FHS, realize that life moves on. You may fall and stumble with obstacles seeming to pop out of nowhere, but by no means is that the end of the world. If you fail to make the varsity team, get rejected from the college of your dreams, or get passed up for that job you always wanted, dust yourself off and move on with your head held high. If you find that the door is closed in front of you, just go look for one that’s open. The world is probably brighter through that door anyways. I’ll close with two words: thank you. Thank you to those who closed the doors and those that showed me which ones were open. Thank you to those who served as my guide and my support. Thank you.
Photo by Jean DeOrnellas.
Sincerely,
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Dear Rebels,
We can learn a lot from Dr. Seuss. We can learn how to count fish (one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish!) and how to eat green eggs and ham. But we can also learn how to live life with gusto. The senior issue of the Rebel Roar has always been my favorite issue. This year, however, it is particularly special for me because it is my last issue. On June 15, 2009, along with 500 of my classmates, I will graduate from Fairfax High School. Together, my classmates and I will turn the page to the next chapter of our lives. We will step into the future with excitement and uncertainty. And although we have some misgivings, one thing is certain—we all have bright futures. Yes, we will face obstacles and be forced to make difficult decisions, but if we’re positive, we will make the right decisions and overcome our problems. We just have to continue to “keep the main thing, the main I cannot end this letter or my four years of high thing” like we did throughout high school. school without thanking the people who have
Special Thanks to...
As a freshman, I was not optimistic about high school. In fact, my first day of high school could have been the pilot episode of a television sitcom— as I pulled open a door to the B-wing, a football player pushed from the other side sending my books and me to the floor; my teachers had trouble remembering my name, so they called me “Chris’s sister,” and I didn’t have many classes with my friends.
contributed so much to my high school experience. Heartfelt thanks to James Lee and Jean DeOrnellas for being not just fellow editors, but great friends too. Many thanks to Miss Lauren Millette, Rebel Roar sponsor, who has strengthened the journalism department and the Rebel Roar’s presence in the school. With her humor and advice, she has motivated us to always do our best. Also, thank you to Assistant Principal Matthew Eline and Director of Student Services Marcy Miller for their encouraging words and support of the Rebel Roar. Twelfth grade Assistant Principal Mrs. Cindy Waddell deserves our many thanks guiding the Class of 2009 to graduation over the past four years. And, of course, thank you to our “Main Man,” Principal Dr. Scott Brabrand.
But things eventually fell into place. Working on the Rebel Roar for the past four years defines my high school experience—I’ve spent countless hours after school working on the newsmagazine, seen my name move up the ranks on the masthead, traveled to California for a journalism convention, written and edited articles about exceptional Fairfax students and teachers, met tight deadlines, sat with the national media during a John McCain rally, and formed strong friendships with staff members. As I became more positive about high school and beyond, things began to work out.
With upbeat honesty, Dr. Seuss describes the uncertainties of entering a new phase of life in his book Oh, the Places You’ll Go. He acknowledges that there will be bumps in the road, loneliness, and wearisome waiting. He says not to worry, though, because somehow we’ll escape all that “waiting and staying” and find “bright places where Boom Bands are playing.” We’ll be forced to make tough decisions and face obstacles, but we can be resilient if we remain optimistic. So, the question is “Will you succeed?”. And the answer to that is “Yes, you will indeed. Ninety-eight and three-quarters guaranteed.” To the Class of 2009- Good Luck! We’re off to great places!
Always a Rebel,
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The fingers behind the bracelets
aso
Q&A with
e i s M s e J
n
When did you start making bracelets? Like a year ago. Would you consider yourself an addict? I would say I make bracelets enough to be called that. When I am bored the first thing I do is whip out bracelets. When did you start getting really good at making bracelets? One day I was home sick and I was Googling things to do while you are sick, and I came upon friendship bracelets, and so a monster was born. Have your parents attempted an intervention? No, actually they ask for bracelets. They are enablers and they buy me all my string. I get string once or twice a month, and spend at least ten dollars a trip.
Do you do this while watching TV? Yes. TV, Facebook, homework. All day, every day. I even did it after my SOL’s. When did people start begging you to make your bracelets? It started in like February from just people at school. I put the people on my list (on my phone) and when I have a chance I make them.
Price Tag:
FREE!
Right now, how many people are on your list? Only five, which is scary because four days ago there were 14 people. Which bracelet do you get asked to make the most? The peace sign, EVERYONE loves the peace sign. Do your teachers ever tell you to put away your bracelets? Mostly Mrs. Webster and Mr. Pahl. Do teachers ever ask you to make them bracelets? Yeah! Senorita Jackson asked for a name bracelet, and Ms. Kelly said she didn’t want one, but we all know she does. So, how do you do that? It is really just making a series of knots with string and being able to read a pattern.
$5
$7
School now comes first for skater H
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ow would you feel, but not all athletes deal with if your coach hit and life-altering injuries. Prior beat you during practice? to his accident, everything Sophomore Sung Jin Park came second to speed skating, knows. He also knows what it including school. After he had is like to face college athletes to stop skating, he was forced to and get hit when you couldn’t go to school fulltime, a difficult compete with them. change for Park. Because he Sung Jin Park was born was always practicing, he had on January 31, 1992 in South no time for school, and wasn’t Korea. When he was six, his receiving the same education parents wanted him to get as other kids his age. When involved in a sport. First, he Park first started his schooling, chose swimming, but was everything was difficult for later inspired to try speed him, because he was behind skating after watching a all of his classmates. The practice. Everyday, Park hardest thing for him to learn awoke at four in the morning was English. to begin practice. For eight Today, Park is a sophomore hours a day, he trained in Pre-AP English 10. Recently hard, with his main goal in Ms. Millette’s first period of becoming an Olympic Sophomore Sung Jin Park, now and then: a true class, he gave a memorable speed skater. A normal day life story of hard work and dedication. persuasive speech on why of training included hours of Photo by Jordan Sharpe. athletes should receive the skate practice and workouts same education as everyone on an exercise bike. else regardless of whether or not they are going to be Park’s dedication showed throughout his early years Olympians. Park’s experiences as an athlete and student as a young speed skater. “I pushed myself more than can be an example for others who dedicate time to their I needed to,” he said. His coaches were also intense athletics. His advice to fellow student athletes is to “find and forceful about his career. “They were overbearing, a balance between school and sports.” and forced me to do many ridiculous things,” he said. During one practice, when he was only ten, Sung Jin’s Jordan Sharpe ‘11 & Steven Kendall ‘11 Business Manager & Staff Writer coaches made him line up with college age speed skaters and skate 100 laps with them. When he couldn’t keep up, he was beaten. Although Park pushed himself to get better, his coaches pushed him even harder, which led to a serious consequence that would change his life forever. At age 12, Sung Jin Park was excelling at speed skating. He was already on his way to becoming an Olympic speed skater, until a fateful practice on October 8, 2003. During a rough workout, he fell, breaking his left ankle and growth plate. What would appear to be just a regular broken bone turned into the worst experience, with many more to come, for Sung Jin Park. All athletes deal with injuries,
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My Life: Concussionized
Over 15 student athletes received concussions this past spring sports season at Fairfax. I was unfortunately one of them. While others teased me about my lackadaisical work habits, our athletic trainers confirmed that skipping homework and tests is a legitimate way to heal a concussion. In fact, according to Mr. Gustman “…by hiding one’s concussion you are risking severe injury or even death.” As I reminisce upon the time I spent injured, I realize that this was really not as serious as they claim. The proof is in my exceptionally well written account that follows. I received my concussion this past March while playing lacrosse. Afterwards everyone was jealous of my academic break. I had to lay off of school until I was fully healed, and I couldn’t do much homework. I am used to my peers being jealous of me, but this was something that I couldn’t quite grasp. While playing in a lacrosse game (goodly, like always,) I hurt my brain with a lacrosse stick. Our athletik training staff diagnosed me with a consussed brain, and my life went down the drain. People everywhere was jealous of my laid-back skool days, but I couldn’t have no funs ever. I would get constant headaches and I wasn’t allowed to play any sports. I missed out on most of the lacrosse season, half of the FHS Ice Hockey spring league season, and my club hockey tryouts. Needless to say, my coaches were not fond of my brain injury. The worst part evah was that I wasn’t allowed to play sports or anythings. I had to sit on the sidelines on both the Rebel Lacrosse team and my hockey team, and it was hard to think of witty cheers to help my teams with moral support. My mind and stuff just wasn’t N*SYNC. Not listening to the athletic trainer’s advice, I didn’t rest as much as I should have when I first received my
concussion. I went on the spring music trip to Florida, where I may or may not have ridden roller coasters that could have gotten me into even more trouble. I stayed on track with as many assignments as possible, and as an honors student, that’s a lot. I stayed up late watching Chelsea Lately, and I woke up early to go to school. I continued to hang with friends on weekends, and I continued to run daily so I could keep in shape while I wasn’t playing sports. Against my will, I even practiced my violin. I do what I want when I want to do it, and that’s why the athletik trainers didn’t like my sass. I had my reasons for insubordination, and I could tell you but I don’t remember what they are right now. I learned my lesson quickly, after I spent four weeks of my kind of rest and I still wasn’t getting better. The athletic training program cracked down on me and I spent two weeks on house rest. Eventually, I stopped getting headaches and got cleared from my concussion. I am now working harder than ever to make up all of the work that I have missed due to my relaxed days. No fear, I am back to normal now, and I got everythang under control. When I hit up the books for some good ole’ fashioned study thyme, I no everything. It’s just cuz ima supa jenious. Now I am efforting so much in all my classes and my teachers are Photos by Jordan Sharpe. so impressed with how hard I works. When I think back to the days of my brain injury, I miss the relaxed and sheltered environment in which I resided in. However, I cannot remember much about my concussed period of time, other than my lack of spelling skills and my increased use of ghetto lingo. But don’t worry guys, cuz I don’t works too hard or else it hurts my mega huge brains again. Anywayz, I def rocked them SOLS, cuz theys for megatron jeniouses like me.
Emily Buzzard ‘11 Staff Writer
Ask Kevin
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Dear Kevin, In recent weeks, I have begun the search for a summer job. I want to have something to do over the break, but most importantly, I want money to spend during the year other than birthday money. What are some tips for finding a good job? Finding the perfect job is a tricky task. You don’t want one that takes up your entire life and you don’t want one that is menial and doesn’t pay at all. My opinion when it comes to jobs is that the more you enjoy the job, the better. Money should come second. That’s not to say you should settle for two dollars an hour at a job that you enjoy, but a summer spent doing something you hate will make you miss school… and nobody wants that. The best job in my opinion is one where you are outdoors, in the sun, relaxing and get to swim around in your free time. That pretty much narrows it down to lifeguarding. After a few classes and some certifications, you can enjoy being paid usually around seven dollars an hour to stare at the water and eat food from the refrigerator in the guard house. Your options are always wide open, though, even if lifeguarding is not your thing. Remember that the lower the commitment required by the job, the more rewarding it is to get paid doing it. Lifeguarding can be fun, but when patrons come whining or incontinent three year olds or 93 year olds arrive, life can get difficult. If you don’t necessarily like dealing with people, dog walking might be your job of choice- remember to bring lots of bags. Babysitting, on the other hand, is a safe bet for a summer job. As long as people have kids, they will want to get away from them. That’s where you come in. The job is often easy and usually involves an early bed time for the kid(s) and you watching T.V. for a few hours. Babysitting can be a gamble, though. You may get a kid that goes to bed and behaves or you can get a mischievous munchkin and depending on how generous the parents are, you may get anywhere form five to 20 dollars to the hour Remember, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one job this summer. Dabbling in different lines of work can make a better-rounded worker. Whether you choose to watch water or watch someone else’s television, there is a great deal of rewarding jobs to be had.
Kevin Dowd ‘10 Commentary Editor
Walking dogs can be a rewarding job and a great escape from retail jobs, where dealing with people makes the work more difficult. Photo by Kevin Dowd.
As a lifeguard you will find yourself spending a lot of time in a chair just like this one with a whistle and a big, red floatie. Photo courtesy of srsmith.com.
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Meet your Class of 2009 Graduation Speakers
On Thursday, May 28, valedictorian candidates met in the Career Center to vote on this year’s speaker at graduation. Esha Pendharkar was chosen to speak at the graduation ceremony and Zach Patteson was chosen to speak at graduation rehearsal.
) gain (right uss’s a h s nd E . Se om Dr (left) a Zach spiration fr ou’ll Go. in aces Y some the Pl ine Treyz , h O her book y Cat sb
Photo
FHS will welcome Douglas Garcia as keynote speaker Douglas Garcia, the Assistant Secretary of Education under Governor Tim Kaine, will be this year’s keynote graduation speaker. Garcia has his roots in Virginia; he attended Alexandria City Public Schools, and graduated from James Madison University. Garcia became an Executive Assistant to Lt. Governor Time Kaine in 2005, and was appointed as Assistant Secretary of Education when Kaine was elected governor in 2006.
Career Highlights:
- T.C. Williams Class of ‘97 - Northern Virginia Community College, A.A., 1999 - James Madison University, B.A., Political Science and International Affiars, 2002 SOURCE: http://www.alexscholarshipfund.org/portraits_of_success/portraits_douglas_garcia.php
Rebel Rants Fairfax seniors look back on their four years Amelia Liarakos Who is/was your favorite teacher and why?
Ms. Varanavage because anyone who can teach calculus in a semi-understandable way and will stay at school for 12 hours a day to help you is amazing.
Dr. Brabrand always reminded us to “keep the main thing the main thing.” What has been your main thing over the past four years?
Academics. What will you miss most about FHS?
Explaining to substitute teachers what that intermittent roar is. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In NYC or London as a graphic designer.
Adam Abdulhamid What is your favorite high school memory?
Getting accepted into college.
What superlative would you give yourself?
Best eyes.
Who is/was your favorite teacher and why?
Mrs. Orazen because she taught me a hard lesson that math isn’t easy. Ms. V followed up on that lesson.
Dr. Brabrand always reminded us to “keep the main thing the main thing.” What has been your main thing over the past four years?
Working hard, but playing harder
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
TIME Magazine Person of the Year
Look for more Rebel Rants throughout the issue...
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American University Shelby Storosh Appalachian State University Lisa Charney Army Minhquan Thai Auburn University Rachel Perash Ave Maria University Horacio Renderos Bethany College of Missions Rebecca Davis Bluefield College Brittaney Grant-Manning Bridgewater College Bryan Bradley Brigham Young University Ian Davies Catholic University Michael Dixon Central Michigan University Jennise Thurston Christopher Newport University Justin DeGaetano Jessica Dowd Scott Fairbairn Laura Haidacher Alex Imhoff Kyla Koerber David Nicoll Eric Wilbrandt Connecticut College Kirsten Manville
Corcoran College of Art and Design Kelsey Wagner
Hampden-Sydney College Michael Larkins Alex Price
Dartmouth College James Lee Catherine Treyz
Hampton University Catherine Johnson
Davidson College Jean DeOrnellas
Howard University Myriam Tchatchouang
East Carolina University Rachelle Cameron Doug Emerson Megan Honour
Iona College Theresa Harvey
Eckerd College Sarah Wolfhope Elon University Katherine Wise George Mason University Ailia Alam Aljon Alonzo Mahmoud Ataya Danny Broyles Elisa Chon Michael Dadok Se-A Han Jennifer Laing Olivia Lee Hwa Lee Phillip Murphy Cecilia Pham Courtney Raper Ali Rehman Shaun Toor Tem Weiland George Washington University Sonia Iqbal Brian Kelly Vandana Parvathi Georgia Institute of Technology Edward Shin
James Madison Andria Bacus Joseph Han Matt Jeanes Michael Krohn Ryan Larson Derek Lukaczyk Alex Mendoza Jose Morales Krista Nashwinter Rachelle Sarmiento Jessica Scudder Lisa Snopek Nick Stahl Susan Stugeon Christine Tran Lauren Trapeni Kritika Vayur John Carroll University Michael Gritz
Northwestern University Sidarth Balaji
Longwood University Chelsea Mullins
NOVA Moises Abarca Asha Ali Kathy Ambrose Chris Angulo Mateen Ansary Taylor Brodkorb Foray Bundu Michael Carnahan Angie Chung Angeline Curi Jack Daniels Rebecca DeSalvo Joe DeSantis Jake Downey Kimberly Fielding
Louisiana State University Michael March Louisiana Tech Chris McLean Loyola University Collin Kourtz Lynchburg College Kenzie McDermott
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Johnson and Wales University Spencer Berkebile Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Guewon Hyun Liberty University Cordero Bernal Kowdy Debrauske Danny Mejia Austin Parkhurst
Lincoln Tech Jonathan Shaffer
Marymount University Nicholas Chocola Ashley Harper Emily Neal Michigan State University Bianca Iriarte Monmouth University Josh Patterson Norfolk State University Iogi Lewis Darryl Prescott Bryce Williams
Brian Hansen Scott Hopkins Kyeong Il Jeong Bo Hyun Jung Muhammad Khan Eric Lesher Alex Malinas Logan Martin Andrea Mercado Raymond Odoom David Parkhurst Samantha Paz Sarah Perez Rorhan Saadulla Umair Saeed Adel Said
David Salgado Ian Schumacher Sun Woong Shin Prazeena Shrestha Peashan Sindi Will Sisson Thomas Smith Camille Speckhard Lacey Stone Erika Thieleman Trang Tran Quang Trinh Cristian Uliu Chloe West Ohio State University Kelly Frecker Stephanie Charney
Radford University Margaret McLain Jenna Philiips Kelsey Ranson Lindsey Uhtoff
The Culinary Institute of America Eizel Luna James Spanninger Samantha Woodill
Randolph College Noosheen Khayam
University of California – Berkeley Kathleen So
Rutgers University – New Brunswick Da Hae Yoon Shenandoah University Sara Johnson Matthew Hendrickson Hunter Walker Michael Wrenn
University of North Carolina – Greensboro Stephanie La Undecided Leon Pollard United States Military Academy Janelle Bass
5.09 Old Dominion University Nathan Berkebile Logan Bishop Kimberly DuPorte Tyler Jones Caitlin Jukes Jeffrey Rozines Eric Shimon Kimberly Spigner Arden Spurlin Daniel Zaatar
St. Joseph College Carolin Mortiere
Penn State University David Moon
Towson University Sarah Houghton
St. Louis University Ethan Paster SUNY Albany Travis Ross Texas Tech University Neal Wright
University of Alabama Mitch Bowen University of Arizona Ellyn Baumgardner University of Illinois – UrbanaChampaign Chloe Sevilla
University of Mary Washington Alison McMillan Amanda Pegeron Christine Sentlinger University of Maryland – College Park Grace Han Tokunbo Okulaja Kameron Wiley Hee Sun Yu University of Miami Brianna Clark Brittany Hopkins
University of Pittsburgh Tara Bastawrous Mike Kim University of the Phillipines Aazeal Canlas University of Virginia Adam Abdulhamid Diana Aleman Eun Bae Zane Chao Becca Christensen Debanjan Dasgupta Ahmad Elhajj Vanessa Garlock Stefan Ha Ruth Kihiu Gada Lam Francesca Lee Vincent Luu Esha Pendharkar Zayd Sarraj Lauren Schaeffer Matthew Schagrin Lauren Sittler Luke Warnock Ayesha Yousuf Ursinus College Lianna Foster-Bey UTI at Exton Ian Hart Virginia Commonwealth University Becca Bowman Valerie Cartagena Derek Daluz Jesse Free Anupriya Ghate Allie Landry Caitlin Noone Mylee Sabarre Rupali Saxena Keenan Sperry Melissa Stephenson Young Hwan Yoo
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Virginia Military Institute Umi Hyon Virginia State University Kabel Moody Virginia Tech Visheshta Chopra Frankie Dowd Makaravine Duong Derek Ellison Amnah Eltahir Sheila Faalasli Carleigh Fagre Meredith Fitzpatrick Ian Jankus Amelia Liarakos Alison Liu Zach Patteson Sarah Rhee Jose Robles Luke Tonia Philene Vu Dorothy Vu Jackson Walters Brian Yonish Virginia Union University Tamara Brown Virginia Wesleyan College Diana Gorv West Virginia University Naseem Amini Neil Bonner JJ Gleason Jullie Kook Krissy Zapf College of William and Mary Sara Evers Mike Hwang Wyotech Institute Taylor Kidwell
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The Sims 3 brings realism to gaming
going to the bathroom. They were essentially in a holding pattern, always waiting for you to take control and make the big decisions for them. Thankfully, the newly released Sims 3 game takes the series to new heights, outshining its predecessors with bold new graphics, stunning new game play, and so many customizable options that, this time, The Sims is finally a proper life simulator. The Sims 3 is the biggest overhaul of the series to date, blowing up the scope of the game from individual households to an From the vast environment to the faces of each Sim, the level of detail is entire town, which means that no spectacular. Photos courtesy of www.thesims3.com. longer will your Sim be confined t’s safe to say that the previous two installments of The to a single lot or have to wait between loading screens Sims series, while fun, have been limited in regards of in order to visit the other parts of town. With this realbeing a life simulator. A decade of The Sims has shown time addition, you will no longer be able to predict how that, if left on their own devices, Sims will only lead various events in the neighborhood affect certain Sims, the most basic of lives; mainly eating, sleeping, and for what happens in one side of town can change what’s happening on the other. Indeed, Junior Mallory Craig, a longtime fan of the series, mentions how excited she is, “for not knowing what to expect, because before you had a general idea on what would happen next. Now, the game is just as unpredictable as the real world.” Character creation is another feature that has expanded tremendously. While easy to use even for beginners, the various options and improvements in the graphics allow you to customize your Sim to look like anyone you know. Furthermore, your Sims’ personality will no longer be limited to a sliding scale of a few basic traits like laziness vs. active or outgoing vs. shy. There are now over 60 dynamic personality traits ranging from paranoid, and kleptomaniac, that, over the course of the Sims’ life, will shape how the Sim will live out its life and interact with others. Also, the customizable options extend to all the items and buildings you can construct, so if you like a certain pattern for example, you can alter those things and truly make it unique. The freedom of The Sims 3 will inspire you with endless creative possibilities and amuse you with unexpected moments of surprise and mischief. Of course, if you’re one who prefers to simulate a predictable life, then that too is possible, and even then there will never be a dull moment. For a mere 50 dollars, this game has virtually unlimited replay value, and will change the way you feel about simulator games forever.
I
Michael Dadok ‘09 Entertainment Editor
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Freshman Fifteen
Toothbrush...$2. Towel…$7. Shoes and clothes…$200. Fifteen essential college survival tips… PRICELESS!
1. G o 2. G to all orie et to n 3. G o to know y tations 4. B our e ca class room refu 5. D mat l o e. or a n’t fee with m l 6. T major. pressu oney red a to m 7. D ke resp ake onsi o n ’ a ha 8. D t pro bilit sty y c o r n deci chan ’t go astin for yo sion ate; urse g h e o s prio 9. G . abou me lf an ritiz ever et In tac d 10. e yo your y w aree Don volved a u e r c e r t k i l . e 11. o i ’ f n t n e d p . s . Le . u D arn 12. on’t p t EVER T a to c and ry not rty on YTHIN ope t t j h o G o with e i g n o w a 13. the Mee a sport in the i eekday n Faceb duc . n s ook. . fam e yo t with o u you urse s “F 14. r pr Y l resh ofes and our fir f. man s o s s r t t 15.” s e w . Ta p ou 15. e e Kee k ke t t Hav p ac he i e so of your be twic niti tive me e c a a o s ou tive mfo fun! rt z t a g n d in one! oing troas y ou u sual ly a re
How to...
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s we begin college or start a new job, we will leave behind the comfort of being surrounded by friends and others we know well. In many ways, college or a new job will be like our first day of kindergarten. We will know no one and no one will know us. As depressing as that sounds, the following tips are easy ways to make new friends: 1. Facebook – Many colleges have “Class of 2013” groups on Facebook. These groups offer an opportunity to chat with future classmates and learn more about the school. Communication with classmates can be handled through the group’s
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...make friends
discussion board. And do not add people to your Facebook friends until you have met them in person, you know them through mutual friends, or until you feel absolutely confident that they are for sure a fellow student. S e r i o u s l y, practice good discretion. CAUTION: Do NOT Facebook stalk people, because that is definitely not cool. 2. Be the first to say “hello”- By saying “hello,” you’re showing that you’re friendly and polite. Through a friendly greeting, you’re also showing an interest and eagerness to meet new people. It can also help
CAUTION: Do NOT Facebook stalk people, because that is definitely not cool.
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Rebel Rants - Kimberley Baker What is your favorite high school memory?
Freshman year homecoming.
If you could do high school all over again, what would you do differently.?
Maybe study a bit more.
Who is/was your favorite teacher and why?
Mr. Peterson because he’s so chill.
Dr. Brabrand always reminded us to “keep the main thing the main thing.” What has been your main thing over the past four years?
Getting in to college.
What will you miss most about FHS?
Dr. B.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Making serious bank flying all over the world doing international business.
initiate a conversation. 3. Be yourself – Be who you are. Become friends with people who you genuinely like or people who share similar interests with you. If you don’t like sports, don’t pretend that you do. And if you don’t like the college party scene, don’t participate in it just because other people do. 4. Join activities – You can join similar activities to the ones you participated in during high school or you can broaden your horizons by trying something new. Whatever the case may be, just join activities because they are great opportunities to meet new people.
Catherine Treyz ‘09 Editor in Chief
...d lau o th nd e ry
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1. Sort your laundry by color and fabric. 2. Follow care directions on clothing labels. 3. Choose the right cycle and water temperature before starting the machine. 4. Don’t overload the machine. 5. Make sure soap & bleach are fully dissolved. 6. Add fabric softener on the rinse cycle. 7. Washing machines have a “time remaining display” that reaches 00 minutes when the clothes are done.
...be a good roommate Z
ack Morris, of Saved by the Bell, had it easy when he went to college. He ended up sharing a room with his longtime high school pals Samuel “Screech” Powers and Albert Clifford “A.C.” Slater. In a matter of days, even, Zack found himself sharing a suite with Kelly Kapowski, his high school sweetheart. Zach had a large room that even fit A.C.’s weight equipment and a common living area with the girls outfitted with a full kitchen, dining area, and living room. Zack was the lucky one. Sharing a room (and a nice one at that) with some of his closest friends made college life much easier. Unfortunately for us, we probably won’t be as lucky. Now, rooms you’ll just have to learn to deal with, you can’t change that. But with roommates, you have a little bit more control. Check out this “How to turn your new roommate into your BFF” to make sure you have a swell first year. 1. Not everyone is from VA. In fact, even if they’re from VA, they may not be from Northern Virginia, which is quite different from southwest VA. Basically, what I’m trying to say is, we’re all different. We all have little quirks that the rest of the world might find odd or even scary. How do you remedy this situation? Accept it, embrace it if you dare, and move on. 2. Shower. Daily. You might think that since you get to travel through the fresh air everyday on your way to class that Mother Nature will keep you clean. Wrong. Spraying all your clothes with Febreeze, while it may help to ease the problem, will only mask it until later. Cleanliness is highly valued in any roommate. At the end of the day, you want your
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room to smell like a bed of roses, not the dumpster of your local McDonalds. 3. Chill out. In a way, getting a roommate is like getting a pet. There are times when he or she will get on your absolute last nerve, like when Spot pees on the carpet, but there are also those times when the two, or three, of you will be the best of friends spending hours together. The only way to experience the second is to endure the first. Just remember that everyone is special and needs to be dealt with differently. 4. Set ground rules. Okay, maybe marching in on the first day with the “Laws of the Land” may be a bad idea, but open the dialogue early about how the two of you will survive your first year with your sanity intact. Decide on things like how many people to have over and what times to study early on. The secret, however, isn’t setting the rules, it’s following them. Also, just because you set rules in September, doesn’t mean you can’t change them come January. Keep the conversation open and be honest with your roommate about pet peeves and other things in order to maintain a livable relationship. 5. Just because you share a room doesn’t mean you share everything else, too. This goes without much explanation. Ask before you use something, even if you already know the answer. And if you use it, put it back just as it was before.
James Lee ‘09 Editor in Chief
Illustration by Kevin Poon.
20 Powderpuff T 7-
09
O 7
The freshmen and sophomores squared off on the turf for the start of the 2009 Powderpuff season. It was a good match-up, ending with a final score of 7 all, in overtime. Left: A freshman running back beats the sophomore defense around the corner on her way to the endzone.
Sophomores (from left to right) Merpy Williams, Shannon Spivey, Maritza Campos, Sarah Medina, Jasmin Green, Victoria Tran, and Sarah Hickerson cheering after their touchdown.
Freshmen vs. Sophomores
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The Class of 2009 poses after their amazing win on May 28, 2009.
Juniors Alex Judge and Lauren Burford show off their pride during the juniorsenior game.
Seniors vs. Juniors
28-14 Seniors in pink from left, Shelby Storosh, Christine Tran, and Morgan Godwin, line up on to defend the juniors.
The seniors took on the juniors and started off strong, scoring two quick touchdowns. The juniors rebounded, but not in time, and lost 28 to 14. The senior class of 2009 has remained undefeated. “The juniors wanted revenge, and the seniors wanted their four year winning streak. We were really pumped up before the game and it really helped out a lot,� said senior Lisa Charney about the game.
Photos by Lindsey Bush, James Lee, Kevin Dowd and Allie Sawyer.
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Rebel Athletes are NCAA bound
Baseball John Brixius - Cortland State Crew Kelly Frecker - Ohio State Phil Murphy - George Mason Cross Country/Track Frances Dowd- Virginia Tech Dance Sheila Faalasli - Virginia Tech Diving Ethan Paster - St. Louis University Field Hockey Lisa Charney - Appalachian State
Shelby Storosh - American University Football Bryan Bradley - Bridgewater College Mike Gritz - John Carroll University Mike Larkins - Hampden-Sydney College Josh Patterson - Monmouth University Alex Price - Hampden-Sydney College Mike Wrenn - Shenandoah University Ice Hockey Kirsten Manville - Connecticut College Lacrosse Matt Hendrickson - Shenandoah University
Hunter Walker - Shenandoah Swimming Ellyn Baumgardner - University of Arizona Jean DeOrnellas - Davidson College Soccer Brittaney Grant-Manning - Bluefield College Tennis Sidarth Balaji - Northwestern Volleyball and Swimming Theresa Harvey - Iona College
This is NOT a comprehensive list - Congratulations to any other athletes who will be playing intercollegiate sports. Additionally, other members of the class of ‘09 will continue their athletic careers on club and intramural teams all over the country.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Larkins.
Several members of the class of 2009 will be continuing athletics in college. Above, the athletic director’s department held a reception for some of the athletes who will be playing college sports.
Rebel Rants - David Schenaker If you could do high school over again, what would you do differently?
Join track earlier.
What superlative would others give you?
Sweetest guy.
Most embarrassing moment?
Tripping over a pole at my first baseball game.
What will you miss most about FHS?
All my great friends I’ve made.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A teacher for math, track coach, and a youth pastor.
Rebel Rants - Daniel Zaatar What is your favorite high school memory?
Making a secret handshake with Mr. St. Germain. Who is/was your favorite teacher and why?
St. Germain, he was cool and a fun teacher.
Most embarrassing moment?
A freshman handed me a napkin and said that I needed to clean up my act.
Dr. Brabrand always reminded us to “keep the main thing the main thing.” What has been your main thing over the past four years?
Making sure I spread my legacy to the students younger than me.
Rebel Newsbriefs Congratulations to all the 2008-2009 athletes.
Tennis:
Sidarth Balaji and Jason Luu continued their dominance of high school tennis, winning the Northern Region boys doubles title 6-0 and 6-3. Balaji made it to the individual region championship, losing 6-4, 7-5 to Stuart junior Justin Shane. The doubles final was a re-match of sorts, with Balaji and Luu competing against Shane and his partner.
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Outdoor Track:
Concord District championships: David Ladd - 1st 100 meters, 1st 200 meters Darryl Prescott - 2nd 100 meters, 2nd 200 meters Nabil Mezher - 1st 400 meters Ethan Paster - 5th 800 meters Kevin Dowd - 2nd 1600 meters, 1st 3200 meters Chad Allen - 3rd 110 meters, 1st boys 4 x 100 meters Brian Hallahan - 3rd high jump Richard Lowe - 4th shot put, 3rd discus Liz Nguyen - 4th 100 meters, 3rd 200 meters Reyna Dawkins - 6th 200 meters Frances Dowd - 1st 800 meters
Northern Region championships:
Frances Dowd - 1st 800 meters David Ladd - 2nd 100 meters Darryl Prescott - 9th 100 meters, 8th 200 meters Kevin Dowd - 2nd 1600 meters 3rd boys 4 x 100 relay
States took place May 29-30
Softball:
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he Fairfax softball team will be leaving the Concorde Distrct next year, but at least one team won’t forget them so quickly. On May 15 the Lady Rebels knocked the undefeated Westfield Bulldogs out of the district tournament. It was an unforgettable game, but the Rebels weren’t even sure that they were going to be able to play in it. One day earlier, the team faced Oakton in the first round. Everything hinged on that game - if they lost, a season that looked oh-so-promising would be over. Against Oakton, the Rebels went up 4-0 but found themselves down 5-4 going into the seventh inning. They had to score to stay alive, and score they did. After 10 hard-fought innings, the Rebels celebrated their 7-6 win with a pile at first base. The next night they did it all again. Up against the undefeated regional powerhouse, the Rebels had no errors and seven hits on their way to a 2-0 victory. The Rebels displayed nerves in the first inning of the Concorde District championship, committing four errors and allowing Centreville to score four runs. They eventually lost the close-fought game 5-1, and four days later their season ended after a 3-1 loss to McLean in the first round of the Northern Region tournament. The Rebels will lose first-baseman Melissa Stephenson, shortstop Lisa Charney, and third-baseman Kirsten Manville from the starting line-up for next year, but the team will be back and ready for action next year in the Liberty District.
Jean DeOrnellas ‘09 Sports Editor
Above, senior Lisa Charney anxiously watches her teammates hit in the last inning of the Concorde District championship. The two other seniors on the team are Kirsten Manville (left), and Melissa Stephenson. Photo by Jean DeOrnellas.
My favorite race . . . The Concorde District championships in swim and dive were the site of the most amazing race I have ever seen. Katie Robertson, one of several freshman distance swimmers, lost her cap, goggles, contacts, and hair tie, and swam the entire race. (Sorry Katie, I had to put it in, it really was a great race.)
Most entertaining moment . . . Watching the band dance with Dr. Brabrand at a football game (if I was a better photographer I would have pictures).
Worst weather . . . I’ve been to a lot of sports games, so I am usually prepared for anything. However, even three blankets, hand-warmers, and four layers of clothes were defeated by the wintery weather conditions at the last field hockey game. I’ve never been so cold, although the fact that an extremely promising post-season run ended that day certainly didn’t help. Not quite as extreme, but equally depressing, was the downpour during the final soccer games.
Here are some of my favorite memories, moments, and epiphanies from this year.
The saga of a sports editor
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love this job. I love having the excuse to attend random sporting events on any free weekday, and I love having the ability to recognize the unsung heroes of FHS athletics, like freshman defender Peter Lam on the soccer team, whose consistently solid play kept the team in so many games, or Coach Marcus Konde, who put so many hours into building a competitive basketball program. I have a new appreciation for all the athletes, from wrestlers to softball players. There are some things that only someone up close can see, like how fast the players on the football field move, the innumerable wraps and bandages that are an inevitable part of a gymnastics uniform, or the incredible athleticism it takes for a cheerleader to perform stunts while using their breath to yell at the top of their lungs. I apologize to all the sports that I never got out to see (golf, indoor and outdoor track, boys basketball, crew, hockey, boys tennis). I know there are amazing athletes on every team. I knew a lot about Fairfax athletics going into this job, but this year has been full of surprises. For example, did you know that at the regional cheerleading competition the parents line up for tickets over half-an-hour early so that when the doors open they can literally run across the gym to get the best seats? I certainly didn’t, but then I also didn’t know that crowd involvement is part of the team score, so it actually helps to have organized parents. Some other random tidbits I picked up . . . o There is no good place to park at Washington-Lee High School. I have driven there three times, one each for volleyball, football, and soccer, and each time parked in a different spot and still had to walk halfway around the school. o Just because spring sports are playing doesn’t mean it is actually spring. I got more use out of my winter coat watching “spring” sports than the fall ones, and I still don’t understand the people who show up to February games in shorts. o Hand warmers actually work, and are extremely useful (see above). o The “what are you doing here?” look is an automatic reaction for many spectators once you let on that you are not related to someone on the team. o The Oakton auxiliary gym is to the left and back in a corner from the main gym (this particular fact was discovered after I walked the entire deserted Oakton High School at 8 p.m. one night when I was trying to find gymnastics practice). o Athletes will look at you funny if you bring a camera to practice. I expected this from many teams, but I still had to explain to my own teammates that I worked on the school paper. Obviously, my experience as a sportswriter was rooted in my own athletic experience. I have participated in the ups and downs of FHS athletics – I was on both a 2-14 JV volleyball team my freshman year and the state championship swim and dive team my junior year. I couldn’t find more amazing athletes than Frankie, Ellyn, and Theresa, or hope for better teammates. Surrounded by a team like that, I snuck into the tiny percentage of athletes that do see their name in the Washington Post, and my philosophy as sports editor was centered on the belief that more athletes should be able to see their name in print. One of my happiest moments of the year was a swimmer telling me that he brought home copies of the paper to show his parents because his name was listed on the sports page. As a new sports editor, I did my best to change the way we covered athletics. New and nervous on the job, I did manage to introduce myself to all the fall coaches, but I can’t say I did a very good job of it. This fall season was heaven for a new editor, with so many successful teams that we didn’t have enough space to properly celebrate them all. However, we achieved our first goal of recognizing every sport. I thoroughly enjoyed my new job, including watching the football games through a camera lens. I only felt a little guilty at the twinge of happiness when I discovered that our first round loss in the volleyball tournament would mean I could finally see a field hockey game.
Moments I was unhappy with my staff . . . As you all know, we planned an April Fools edition with fake news stories. At one point during brainstorming I overheard the idea for the cover, which included a story about one of the FHS teams that was actually struggling winning the state championship. “Jean, you look so horrified!” James told me. “I thought when sports finally got on the cover it would be for a good thing,” I replied.
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My year was full of less-than-perfect experiences, like the final soccer game in the pouring rain. Above, goalie Stephen Clark watches the painful game from the field.
A pretty good sign that things are not going well . . . When parents of the other team start taking pictures of the scoreboard because they never see their own team ahead.
Sports Editor
Best finish . . . During the boys varsity soccer game against Woodson a ball was served into the penalty box as part of a last minute surge at the end of the second overtime. A goal was only prevented by a Woodson defender illegally knocking the ball out of bounds with his hand. The Rebels made the resulting penalty kick with no time left on the clock.
Jean DeOrnellas ‘09
Best play . . . Chris Regensburg’s 70 yd touchdown to take a lead against Oakton (I can’t believe I missed this! See a replay on digitalsports.com)
Throughout the winter season we made sure to mention by name every individual who qualified for regional or state competition, and although a simple name doesn’t acknowledge the magnitude of their achievements, I hope it was at least a start. The winter season was also the source of another breakthrough. My friends couldn’t understand why I was so happy that Coach Haddock stopped me in the hallway to tell me about a player signing at the school, but to me that meant we were a real newspaper, with responsibilities and expectations of the students and staff that we would cover the important news. Spring season I made a final attempt to encourage other writers to attend sporting events by assigning each team to a specific reporter. This project required everyone in journalism to follow a team, attend at least one event, and develop a source to keep track of the season. Nothing ever goes as planned in the journalism room, but at least I know we have an accurate record of the season, and that is as good a start as any. Thank you, thank you, thank you to those who have given feedback on the sports section. Many thanks go out to Coach Aderton, who always encouraged and praised our efforts. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for driving me and paying admission for so many away games. (Yes, I go to games with my parents. They don’t get offended when I would rather watch or take pictures than talk, and they don’t think I’m insane when I spend entire soccer games muttering to myself. They will also drive me to Arlington on a Wednesday night, and they deal with the strange stares of people wondering why they would drive out to Arlington without a player on the team very well.) And of course, I could never have gotten through the year without our wonderful athletic director staff, including Mr. Gordon, Ms. Sweeney, and Coach Haddock, who were always willing to help with contact information, schedules, or anything else I asked for at the last minute. After this issue there will be a new sports editor, Kevin Dowd, but I still look back on this year and see a million things I should have done. It will be hard to give up the post that took so many hours, but I know that this year was at least a step in the right direction. Help us to keep moving in that direction. Write, email, or even call us. We publish in our masthead that the Rebel Roar is a forum for student expression, so help us to also make it a place to recognize student achievement. Oh, the places FHS athletics can go!
Weirdest rule . . . Field hockey overtime begins as a seven vs. seven game (which wouldn’t be weird, except that field hockey games are played with eleven on side). Additionally, each minute the game remains tied, one player from each team is removed from the field. Personally, I think other sports would benefit from this rule also. Take note, NFL!
Photo by Jean DeOrnellas.
Something I was unprepared for . . . Even after competing on several school teams I was unprepared for the emotions I came in contact with this year. Several times this year I found myself an unwitting intruder, witnessing the teams during some of its most emotional moments (last practices, senior night, the last game of the season). I saw more tears than I would have ever anticipated, and not from the teams, or athletes, that anyone would have expected. I have pictures, but ultimately I decided that our athletes’ right to grieve in private trumped journalistic merit.
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Chorus remembers the magic
Final concert gives seniors a last chance to let loose with Disney The spring chorus show allows the choirs to cut loose with group numbers and smaller performances set to a theme of Disney songs. The show included a good-bye song for the seniors, “Go the Distance,” set in front of a slideshow of pictures from the music trip. However, the underclassmen repeatedly stole the show, including a triumphant performance of “He Lives in You” by the new FHS a capella group, Rebel Treble. Other songs, while not all performed with perfect technique, were saved by the performance and enthusiasm of the singers (i.e. “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” by the combined men’s choirs). And the chaperone “surprise” gets better every year!
Clockwise from top: the women’s concert choir performs “Cruella de Vil;” Cory Apps has the opening solo in “Circle of Life”; parent chaperones of the music trip perform of a skit to a medley of Disney songs; and Bel Canto sings “Under the Sea.” Photos by Jean DeOrnellas.